Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Severna Park MD

How to Choose a Veterinary Technician School near Severna Park Maryland

Severna Park MD vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Severna Park MD could initially seem like a daunting task. After all, you need to find and enroll in a college that will furnish the necessary training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle reviewing and comparing colleges so that you can make the proper choice? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their homes. When they have located some local schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant considerations when assessing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech programs you are evaluating before you make an ultimate decision. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the varied responsibilities of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Severna Park MD

cat with cone after surgery in Severna Park MD Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many duties that they can perform within the Severna Park MD veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the typical vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and education requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more involved undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared with assistants and usually obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more involved tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes 4 years to complete. So the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Some may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Severna Park MD laboratories or research facilities also.

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Severna Park

student attending online vet tech school in Severna Park MD An approach that may make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided via the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Severna Park MD veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, for example for traveling and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the right option for you.

What to Ask Severna Park MD Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Severna Park MD vet tech schools By now you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you would like to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Severna Park MD area and across the USA, you need to ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough review process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Severna Park MD area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Maryland school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Severna Park MD veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best approach to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Severna Park MD veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate might suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the college has an excellent reputation within the Severna Park MD veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Severna Park MD colleges you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Of course, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Severna Park MD home, you need to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or near a large city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending online classes could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s essential that you determine if the vet programs you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Severna Park MD. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online college is the best solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Severna Park MD?

If you have decided to attend a Veterinary Technician Program in the Severna Park Maryland area, then you may find the following information about the location of your school campus interesting and informing.

Severna Park, Maryland

Severna Park is a census-designated place (CDP) in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States. Severna Park is part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area, and is located approximately 8 miles (13 km) north of Annapolis, 17 miles (27 km) south of Baltimore, and 39 miles (63 km) east of Washington, D.C. Severna Park's population was 37,634 at the 2010 census.[1]

The name Severna Park is believed to originate from a 1906 contest held by Oscar Hatton while the modern community was first becoming established. The winner would receive a portion of land but controversy arose because the winner was an African-American woman, who was instead rewarded $500.[2]

Robinson House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.[3] Severna Park was originally named "Boone," and was a stop along the Baltimore & Annapolis Railroad, which was converted to the B&A Rail Trail in 1990. Severna Park is also home to the Severn School, which was established in 1914, as well as several other old homes and buildings.

Pick the Right Vet Tech Program near Severna Park MD

Severna Park MD vet tech holding dog Selecting the appropriate veterinary technician college is an important first step to starting a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students considering veterinary technician programs must make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the best college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Severna Park MD.